Shall we point out the ludicrous asking price for the thousands of 30 yr old rigs with 100 lb batteries n generators with insulations and hoses crumbling to bits? This is the “Ocean” trim — each trim level gets a beach-y themed name. Plenty of diesel mechanics around that can fix these. Times have changed. Likewise, people were told to buy Hummers, they did, and then they got played by the fuel industry. It would bump VW’s total sales by 50%. Breakdowns – people say their Volkswagen campers break down quite often because they’re older and therefore more prone to developing issues. Actually have people put money down and have skin in the game. Volume in Europe is now at an all time high of 12000 units. VW did a superb job! 🙂 I will. On Eurovan boards of which I’m a member, when people check out these vans while vacationing in Europe, the price with tax, destination fees, etc., is usually closer to My current business imports from Europe and brings containers over on a regular basis. This is a prime example of the vulgar and excessive state of mind in America. They’d have to ship it back to Europe to sell it.]. Most if not all of the converted Nissan NV 2500 or 3500 you see are the high top version. And although it is mostly perfect, I would opt for gas over diesel having lived through both the TDI situation, and three of the slow, under-powered diesel Westie’s of the past. It’s as if they haven’t heard of #vanlife. You can also subscribe without commenting. Notify me of followup comments via email. Lost my Mom 34 years ago to cancer. VW has to be more selective. Not a fan of that collaboration, at all. Your email address will not be published. Sell me an “Ocean” now…although I wish it was available in a manual shift. If desired, maybe on a cold and grey morning, when extreme privacy is wanted, or just to keep out a soul-penetrating early morning sun’s glare through the windows, you can set an alarm that will gradually raise the interior LED lights to mimic the sunrise. Sadly that won’t be happening 🙁, CaveVan can build you a Custom Eurovan or poptop Metris here in the USA. Now it’s garage kept unlike a RV. Sadly it’s gone on deaf ears so far. The base model starts at nearly $50k, without shipping charges, which, sure that’s a lot of money. Tesla did this in 2016 with the Model 3 and got 325,000 pre-orders. So you need something compact in order to get where you want to go. Kevin, it sounds like you know quite a lot about this industry so maybe you can verify if what I was told at the dealership is correct or not. Or, is it illegal to have one in US? As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. That support would be missing in the US. I’m an ex Eurovan owner and moved to a sprinter van, when my VW died. This thing would sell like hotcakes in the US. So much for free trade. VW hasn’t sold an original van in the US, since the Eurovan. This means that with many of the niggling faults that complex new cars can have, owners complain of long repair times while dealers figure out what to do. But i promised her i would have a new camper one day!! And most Americans over 30 would be way too fat to fit in anything that small. We need to discontinue the sloppy, twee trend of adding a “y” to nouns and calling them a adjectives. $27,790. For those of us who want to downsize, this country is the worst! Unfortunately, the Metris isn’t sold as a 4×4 in the states, but the Tecamp is really sweet 🙂, In 2012, we bought a Nissan NV converted by Sportsmobile, Fresno. But I will probably build one. Because of the success of the trip around Europe we’ve just placed an order for a new California Ocean 4 wheel drive camper. Someone else suggested that as well here on this thread. Get this camper van to the US Volkswagen and you will turn a profit for sure! It’s not a “world vehicle”. since September 2019, Westfalia has been using the new T6.1, professionally lifted by VW, as the base vehicle for the Club Joker and Club Joker City models. But there's … $0 (bli > Bellingham) pic hide this posting restore restore this posting. These would sell in the states like hotcakes. I did catch a glimpse of one of these VW California’s last year driving past me north on the 101 here in Los Angeles. Two adults can fit up here, actually, with a second bed down below. It’s possible to get one here. Same for V6 and V8.) I was told at my VW dealership that it would cost the VW company quite a lot of money to do the testing to verify that it meets our standards. They bought a rebadged Chrysler T&C, with a couple VW specific items, like MMI interface, but it was a $45k mini van. Problem is that the Tofino does not have the same nice cabinetry for storage that the California has. Due to the huge success of the Westfalia brand over the last few years, we are excited to now have extended our stock of the all-new 2021 Westfalia collection with a huge range of high-class campervans being welcomed to our forecourt built on renowned Mercedes, VW, Fiat and Ford chassis for maximum performance on the road.. Westfalia … There is also the issue of Diesel engines. VW has chose not to invest the money that it would take (apparently millions) to do the test to show that the vans meet those standards. Given the sad amount of time off Americans get in comparison to Europe they probably assumed not worth the bother. I’d gladly do it and sell it to you for $80k. But people are climbing over each other to drop twice that on a Sprinter van, buying far, far more van than most actually need, and Mercedes isn’t complaining. Probably not enough to build a support structure for the vans themselves and the camper part. Sven Hedin Adventure awaits with the new Westfalia Sven … Classic Volkswagen Westfalia Camper for Sale. VW would have made (and still would) a killing if they would have sold these camper vans in the US at the beginning of the pandemic. Take a Closer Look. Did Christian ever have a chance to receive your well-articulated commentary? I would buy a California tomorrow. My understanding is that the van hasn’t been tested to meet US standards and that is why it isn’t being sold here. It’s comfortable, intelligently designed and very powerful, we were on the Autobahn’s of Germany where there is no speed limit and it easily kept up with the Porsches, BMW’s and Mercedes driving well over 110 MPH. That’s the closest you can get right now. I think with Covid, there’s has never been a time where getting outdoors is so vital. Instead of assuming that there is not enough demand, why don’t they ask for pre-orders with the contingency that they’d only produce and ship if they hit their target numbers? This doesn’t seem insurmountable? $27,995. I have been looking for years to find a way to import a new camper without paying the 150% plus the cost to get the van certified by NHTSA via RI. <–BOOM. Well this article didn’t age well. Mine runs great, has low mileage and since I can’t seem to import a vehicle from Europe, I am wondering if I can get parts to modify the cabinet section (cooler/refrigerator, sink, stovetop and storage below these items). And that’s without mentioning the statement you’d make by driving one around! Galley with burner and sink, double bed, windows, 93 cubic feet cargo space. I can send him the money, have him buy it for me and ship it home. Performance – an old VW camper van won’t accelerate or slow down very quickly and it may struggle to go uphill, so you should drive carefully. Happy vanning! You can take it to any campground as a van, not an RV. Another thing is VW is selling an electric van here in 2022. Or alternatively add a premium to the sell price to make the #s work for them in order to meet the demand in the US? Good Article and good comments. And eliminates it from my dreams. In automotive terms, that’s peanuts. Surely a European car, especially from Germany, would meet US standards? SMB converted 30 to be sold for $65k+ at Nissan “commercial” dealerships. Exterior paint and de-rust job. 'Chicken Tax'? I was surprised to hear that these are not available in the states. The conversions will give old VW Beetles about 80 horsepower, 124 miles of range, and also improve their handling and increase the amount of available storage. Galley with burner and sink, windows, double bed. The Second-Generation Type 2 Did Away With Its Distinctive... More. Westfalia is the designation of various specially converted Volkswagen camper vans.It is named after Westfalia-Werke, the contractor that built the vans, which is headquartered in the town of Rheda-Wiedenbrück, located in the Westphalia region of Germany.. Westfalia-Werke also converted non-Volkswagen … We rented one in France and followed the Tour several years ago and have been trying to figure out how to get one in the US ever since. But Americans love their adventures and I for one would be interested in this van. The new VW Crafter has been finding its place in the camper van market, in production campers like the Knaus Boxdrive to wild concepts like Volkswagen's own California XXL. Soooooo much cheaper. For comparison, here are some of the brands that sold fewer than 200,000 vehicles in the US last year: and it is without Kitchen stuff and furniture otherwise nearly fully loaded. This Van would sell out like crazy!! Email me how much you will pay for one…. Millenials would gobble them up. Yes, that was for a car that wasn’t even in production, and with a 3-year wait time. I was also told that if we somehow were able to import one, we wouldn’t be able to sell it to anyone because it would not be verified as meeting US environmental standards. John. Yes, there’s a market! 2019 VW Camper Colors, Release Date, Redesign, Price – Will Volkswagen microbus again gave that the electric pushed vehicle, debuting inside of the extravaganza CES technology prior to the technology, depending on the information. My 15 oz tent cost me $580. Classifieds for Classic Volkswagen Westfalia Camper. It is not without reason that the first motorhome ever ... read more » Hot water heating system ... 05.11.2019 Westfalia is celebrating … My expatriate daughter lives and works in Germany. I’m not interested in the ID Buzz it doesn’t seems to offer the utility my Eurovan did. More? Buhlmann went on to explain that VW is aware people love vans in the US, but they’d need to sell 200,000 units to make it worthwhile, economically. If that doesn’t work, one of my former students is now a Marine Corps Staff Sergeant stationed in Stuttgart. The rewards could also be larger, but the competitors will likely be tougher. Well, California vans have occasionally been spotted in the US, so maybe, just maybe some enterprising van lover can get their hands on one. – Porsche: 59,116 vehicles [In my case, I am old enough that this wouldn’t matter because I would keep it until I die! Maybe VW recognizes this as well. They’re probably the easiest to find on the market. ben on 1987 VW Westfalia Camper w/ 1.8 Turbo Audi Engine Conversion – Auction In Idaho; Ed Landsinger on 1990 Westy Camper w/ Fresh Engine & Auto Trans – Auction in Sonoma, CA; Paul on 1989 VW Vanagon Westfalia Camper – AT – 125k Miles – $15,800 in Seattle, WA; Paul on 1989 VW Vanagon Westfalia … DIY conversions go with high tops because the pop top will add $10k+ to the price of the van. Not at all. The issue will be maintenance and parts but I’ve always use normal garages to fix my previous VW T5’s unless under warranty. Volkswagen is making waves with their 2020 VW camper van. The company that brought us one of the first camping ready vans, the Microbus, and later iterations of the … Do I–the average WANKER (lol)–have $30,000, "Cash Only" for the jabroni selling his rusty clunker on eBay or advertising through a car website? Ford can sell boatloads of Transit vans, for example, but they’re one of the Big Three, so they can sell a ton of anything they make. You can opt for shade spots, low limbs, car access only, etc. Peace Vans on Seattle are building very slick campers with mercedes. Browse listings. You can do this! Where were all of you when these were built and sold? There is an RV market, true, but those RVs are much larger in size than what we currently offer. Perhaps this should be the starting grounds for identifying the demand, not statistics from 2004 when MySpace was exploding, and people were still living in their tiny worlds (today, we all want to be Mark Twain again like in the 70s, not Eminem n Marylin Manson like in the Y2K). You could consider this a “smart camper.” A sophisticated control system handles things like the onboard fridge, lighting systems, and the pop-up tent. Pfft. Pop-top, galley, cabinets, windows, fresh and grey water tanks, 2 small tables. MikeA. VW Needs to produce a basic cargo version of this van, and produce it in the U.S. to keep the price down. I’m not sure you’re going to be able to “import” one to the states that easily. Isn’t the real reason they’re not available in NA the chicken tax? – Tesla: 197,517 vehicles. Would love to have one here in the states – my in laws have on in Germany and it is great little camper ! An attention-grabbing vehicle – everyone will turn around when they see your hippie-van. I’m now considering a Transit or Sprinter, because I don’t want a minivan. To sum it up it’s probably not worth to do until the US will drop the ‘chicken Tax‘. Motorized pop-top, kitchenette, 30L fresh and grey water tanks, 4×4 drive. That's laughable…Every blonde haired, silicon altered mom living in the yuppy housing plan next to my farm would buy this thing tomorrow to run to town and look oh so extra adorable (right?) I would love a new camper van. Mercedes start at $160k – that’s price is a deal breaker for most people. Here’s a question…and I am seriously trying to do this!!! I couldn’t have said I better! I saw “cliffy” used to describe a campsite in AJ #13 the other day. I’ve been considering buying a nice sprinter camper van. A pop top seats 4-5, sleeps 4. Whole sections of counties have to evacuate with little notice. Oh, one more thing. We won't send you spam. VW didn’t release any … I would pay you in advance to get a New California or the 2019 Kepler one. C’mon VW, you’re creative! ), then immediately follow up with, “My F-250 would eat those for lunch…”. I do believe they would sell, maybe not like hot cakes, but they would sell. But my estate might be stuck with a problem. My Moms initials were VW. Incredibly sad the California isn’t coming to the US and praying VW will change their mind. [email protected]. And and getting parts is going to require importing most items from Europe. The campers back to USA. That’s a good plan for getting one here – I looked into it too. VW Vanagon – From  $9,900 for a 1984 version, VW Westfalia camper van – From $11,000 for a 1970 version, VW Eurovan – From $5,500 for a 1993 MV version, Rent a campervan before you buy ($40 off! Well, PJ Williams, we can at least dream about one!! Well, it’s hard to say exactly, but seems to be that VW doesn’t think there’s a big enough market in the US and that potential buyers would balk at the cost. VW brought a bunch of T6 camper vans to the states last year and they were all given high praise by the media. That’s millions of potential buyers. 2019 Volkswagen Golf Alltrack Starting Price. Long story short: unless VW were able to also sell the full range of other Transporters in the US, reengineering just the California and creating a support system for it would be ridiculously expensive. “Torquey”? Another thing to consider is the resourcefulness of the average American camper. by Justin Housman | Aug 12, 2019 | Overlandia | 108 comments. – Volvo: 98,786 vehicles However, at least offer the opportunity for people to buy over there and bring over here to the US like some of the European auto brands offer to their customers. I’m guessing the market is too limited, and once the people that want them buy them, that will be it for sales. Price – unless you choose an immaculate model, you can pick up an older VW camper van fairly cheap. Just got to ride in one in Taiwan, and I would spend $75k – $80k easy on this camper, and drive it daily for work, and then off we go on the weekends. About Volkswagen . Shoot him an email and let him know your thoughts on the matter. A lot of the bells and whistles in a van like the VW Cali are not necessary and a home build (if you/I can do it) is far cheaper and more specific to your personal needs. Had lots of work done to it whilst I had owned it including: Volkswagen Vanagon 1983. Ford unveiled the 2019 Transit Custom Nugget camper van with an upgraded look, new features, and a fully livable interior to be sold directly through select dealers. 4000 to 6000? The discussion usually ends with the price tag, or they are more interested in a diy project. while doing it. Each van is slightly … Westfalia Campers were available from Volkswagen dealers worldwide and were also delivered via the Tourist Delivery Program — whereby a customer would pick up their new van in Germany, drive it in Europe, then VW … I would buy this. There are some rare exceptions, none of them are vans. I’d willingly part with my money for one of these whenever they decide to bring em stateside. “Let’s say you’re taking your average camper van and you’re going to Italy, take a U.S. van, you wouldn’t be able to access all these little alleys, these streets that they have – you would be stuck. Just trying to see if it makes financial sense. Back in the early 70s, we dreamed of buying a Volvo this way. Over here, where everything is accessible, even for large RVs, there is just not this demand. So far to my knowledge, only 1 used NV SMB has come on the market. Part of the problem was nonexistent marketing and perhaps a misplaced need to own a Sprinter or nostalgia for a VW. Christian Buhlmann Ever heard of the “chicken tax?” That adds a few grand to the price as well. Since van life has rocketed into the mainstream culture, the vintage VW bus solidified itself as an iconic symbol of nomadic freedom. I didn’t mean to imply they would sell 200,000 west of the Rockies in a single year, but that’s a fair assumption since I was making a comparison to the single-year sells disaster of <4,000. I will be happy to go back to buying my VW vehicles when VW brings I loved it, it was what I was looking for since I sold my Honda Element in ’16. Your email address will not be published. I’ve had three vans in my life– I’m 41 now. People are simplifying their lives. Questions and Answers about VW camper vans, Conclusion on new VW camper vans for sale, Campervan Interior Ideas: Building out your Van, Toyota Sienna Camper is an affordable custom build, Top four cargo vans for a campervan conversion. I’m so tired of the American attitude that “big is better, and biggest is best”! I am very disappointed in VW! If we ever move there a van like this is definitely in the must have category. “The second problem is currently we make those vans in Europe, and even with the rising dollar and weaker Euro share, it is not enough units to make up for a reasonable price. Since the current season, i.e. Am I missing something? I am curious, whether you know this or not, if there are tarfiffs, anything needing to be done to align with EPA standards or anything else legal. 24 MPG. Last — kind f annoying that Adventure Journal was too lazy to call up VW themselves and get some one to comment in 2019, instead of relying on an interview “a few years ago.”. Heck, let's say it costs $99,976: I'd prob still buy it first, because I can make car payments. unlike that cumbersome RV. Now we're making claims this thing costs $80,000? Seems like they could get it to where they only need to sell 50K or even 10K vehicles to make a profitable. Took forever to sell them. I’ve currently got a new Diesel VW Caravelle 6.1 which has 4 wheel drive and an automatic DSG gerabox. Risk of ruining the look – if you make many upgrades to a VW camper to make it more comfortable, you risk spoiling the original look of these beauties. Selling and supporting Californias is tricky even in Europe. Yeah, my first thought when I read that quote was, dude, people pay $25k for 30-year-old Westys that they KNOW will break down repeatedly. Here it is and i cant buy it? Eurovans and other variants are in high demand, https://www.rvtrader.com/listing/2000-Volkswagen-EUROVAN-FULL-CAMPER-5008346425. But until then, I’ll keep my Eurovan oiled and tuned. I will buy her one, have her drive it long enough to make it “used”, and then have her ship it home to us. Offered By: Midwest Car Exchange. Or maybe a Tofino if I was in the market again. The “California” name alone makes it seem as though Volkswagen is trolling us. 1985 VW Vanagon Westfalia Camper w/ Subaru 2.2L Engine - $19,500 in Bellingham, WA 1984 VW Vanagon Westfalia w/ 2.5L Subaru - $20k in Seattle, WA Rare 5 Speed 2.1L Westy For Sale Again - … Thanks Kevin. The all-new James Cook wasn't the only new camper van that Westfalia debuted at the 2019 Düsseldorf Caravan Salon, nor was it even the only new expanding camper van. There’s always a solution to these problems. Set an alert to be notified of new listings. It just seems like they could re-engineer the California for the US market – i.e., increase the price, or eliminate the some of the most expensive-to-manufacture features, or some combination of both. Challenging to fix – replacement parts are typically harder to get, as these models are not on the market anymore and shipping them from Europe can be costly. Lol. My UL down quilt cost me $250. A dedicated VW community – there’s a keen VW owners community in the US, so you will be able to connect with fellow owners and ask questions about any parts you may need to fix or any tips on upgrading parts, like the pop-top. That’s what happened to the Element. 'Americans Like Big, Small Thing Bad'. Moving up a league doesn't always bring success. Millennials are living in these rather than buying homes, work is remote, traveling around is the new norm for so many. It’s a bullshit conspiracy, that or VW is absolutely nuts!! We camped all over the west in that puppy. It is hugely complex with its electrohydraulic roof and even in Germany not many VW dealerships know how to work on them. We are selling vans, very well-equipped vans with four-wheel-drive, with kitchenette, with everything that you want for prices of $50,000 and up, which is not where the market here is, or where the camping market is. VW is right; they will not sell enough of these. You’re right on both counts: the basic vehicle (VW Transporter) in this generation (and the previous 2) was never engineered for the US. I absolutely love your comments. If memory serves, the Eurovan has always been a really expensive van too, and VW has sold plenty of them in the US. These would sell by the boatload in the U.S. at any price under $70k. etc…simply saying there isn’t a market for $50,000 camper vans in the US doesn’t make the statement true, nor remotely accurate. Compact and driveability as anti-selling points? Maybe they will come up with an electric version of the California since they built/ expanded that large plant in Tennessee specifically for electric vehicles. That represents 2% of the total 17.4 million new vehicles sold in the US, making VW the 13th largest brand (out of 35) by vehicles sold. I have no doubt it will sell like hot cakes here. Browse Volkswagen RVs. In 2003, the final year that VW imported the Eurovan to the US, less than 4,000 sold in the entire year! http://www.alpesevasion.com0479612383Consultez notre page internet pour vous tenir au courant des nouveautés. And they are vw experts so they know the history. I think of this all the time when I see 5 people get into a VW estate wagon when I’m in Europe 🙁. In 2018, Volkswagen sold 354,053 new vehicles (all VW models in total) in the US. Volkswagen … At $50k, almost no one under 30 could afford it. VW is promising the electric new bus, the “ID Buzz” will hit US dealers in 2022. For all of us actually living in the states, we are WELL AWARE of the incredibly high demand for AWD, compact, short wheel base, narrow bodied, trail-capable and overland-ready camper vans. Buhlmann says that VW would need to sell 200,000 California vans for the product to be economically viable. Thinking of buying 2 more and selling them. Problem with shipping one home is getting parts and service. Please read our. The Westfalia was one of the most popular models of VW camper vans and has been produced for decades. We participate in the Amazon Services, LLC Associates program. – Land Rover: 92,143 vehicles Head of Product Line Communications At this moment, the only brand new AWD or 4×4 options in the states are the insanely inflated diesel Sprinters or the highly anticipated (sad) 2020 Ford Transit. But, Kevin, if you are able to import them, I would be an interested buyer. I don’t know if many people in US are willing to pay that. A 74 Type 2 Westy Tin Top, an 86 GL Vanagon (my first car), and currently have a 2003 Eurovan MV Tintop. I’m going to look into buying in Europe and transporting to US – once it’s safe again to travel abroad. I don't drive it as much as one should with this van. Just not the same at a ridiculous price. Great. Or how many times do you hear a family of 3 say, “We need a minivan for the room”? Volkswagen Westfalia 2020, Volkswagen Westfalia 2020. Rubbish. Hi Jeff, European VW van here. Check out GTRV! Oh, yeah I do: I wish Buhlmann had done his homework, like, for one day, so I could buy this perfect van. In Europe, Transporters are used as a base van for anything from ambulances, to plumber’s vans, to courtesy shuttles so there is enough volume for all VW dealers know how to work on the vehicle side. Had the “demand” been there, more than 30 would have been converted. Once again, a $50,000 camper van beats a 21+' mini RV any day of the week; whether you're buying overpriced, organic groceries in your hometown, or you're stopping to sleep in an Iowa WalMart lot on your way crosscountry (let's face it, you didn't stop in Iowa for any other reason). It is ridiculous that we are held hostage by our own government regulations. It is sad thst we have to make do with Ford, Chevy, and Mercedes conversions that start at $90k, and dont offer anything near what this little guy can do. My first car was a VW Karman Ghia that we bought in Germany, drove it around Europe and shipped it back to the USA. ... business awards recognized ClassicCars.com's first-class Customer Support team with a Stevie Bronze Award in 2019… As much, anyway. In Germany, where over 50% are sold, not every VW dealership will sell or even touch them due to the complexity of the camper part (electro-hydraulic poptop raising mechanism, anyone?). I think they know.. i think there’s some underlying conspiracy for there is no logic behind this reasoning.. I just bought a California, Not something huge. Road trips have been and will be replacing air travel and better yet camping and having the ability to not stay in a hotel. Plenty of vans to chose from. – Cadillac: 153,863 vehicles Particularly with the pandemic, these would sell very well.
Pro De La Ruse Mots Fléchés, Poème D'amour Pour Ma Femme De Ma Vie, Il Est Où Le Bonheur, 15ème Arrondissement Paris Réputation, Comment Activer Le Bluetooth Sur Nintendo Switch Lite, Dokkan Battle Best Team, De Tout Style Ou De Tous Styles, Catalogue Jardin Brico Dépôt, Offre D'emploi Guadeloupe,